Stories that Matter

About Me

Alas, most days I have to suck it up and put on my big girl panties and get on with life. I hit my 50’s a couple years back, and I can tell you, it’s no walk in the park. But there’s also a lot of fun going on around me to distract me from the unpleasant moments that hit at this age.

I’m happily married to a wonderful man who loves to cook, (yay me!), and I so appreciate that, because I don’t. I can, but it’s not something I enjoy and I’m always looking for excuses not to!

We’re fortunate enough to live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, where it never snows. My husband originally hails from Canada, where it does snow, and we also own a home in Northern Ontario, where we enjoy retreating to quite often. Even in the snow on the odd occasion.

Somehow between us, we managed to raise two amazing humans. Our daughter is a lifestyle photographer here in Bermuda, she does spectacular work, and she also manages the front desk of my husband’s busy pediatric office, as well as being a wife and new mom. She’s basically superwoman. Her husband is just as busy and impressive, because hello, he’s a firefighter. Thanks to them, we are first time grandparents, which is kind of scary and cool and every feeling in between. We adore (worship?) our beautiful granddaughter and spoil her as often as we can! She is the cutest baby on the planet. Not even kidding. I’m also her part-time care giver, which is lots of fun, and tiring, but mostly fun!

Our son and his fiancée reside in Boston, where they make musical magic together in a band called The Western Den. We are in love with them and their music. You should check them out. We are so looking forward to watching what the future holds for these two.

Family is everything to me, and I am crazy about mine.

We also have a loveable energetic border collie, Noah, who still thinks he’s a puppy even though he’s 9. I’m dog crazy. I’d have more than one if I could, but life right now doesn’t allow it.

I live for that first cup of coffee in the morning. I love to read, watch movies and sometimes I sing in the shower. I’m slightly sarcastic but I’m told this is an endearing quality. I love Jesus, but I drink a little. Did you laugh?

How I Got to Authorland

Did you know you really can’t snap your fingers and write and publish a book overnight? It’s true. I tried. For years. Actually, what really happened is that my kids grew up a little and trotted off to school in the mornings (praise Jesus), and I needed something to do with my time. I’d always loved writing, wrote my first supremely terrible book when I was 13, and I figured this was what I was born for.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself exploring the brand new world that was the Internet. I joined some writers’ groups and began the long and arduous search for an agent and a publisher at the same time. Needless to say, I got a lot wrong. But I got some things right. Eventually, through no small act of God, my wonderful agent, Rachelle Gardner, decided to take a chance on me (the act of God), and a wonderful friendship was born. She refused to let me give up all the times I wanted to hurl my laptop against the nearest wall, and lo and behold, a few years ago, she was able to tell me all our hard work had finally paid off, because I’d landed a contract with my dream publisher (yes, it’s a thing), Harper Collins Christian Publishing. And we all lived happily ever after.

Here’s the thing –

Life is hard. I keep saying that. But it’s true. And so I write about it. I’m not much into sugar, so you won’t find a lot of it in my novels. I believe in truth telling. I believe in creating characters so real you see yourself in them. I love to write about families and all the dysfunction and craziness that comes with them. I love romance, so there’s always a nice splash of that in any of my books. And I believe in the power of forgiveness, redemption and restoration, found through God’s amazing grace and mercy. If that sounds like it might be your thing too, then maybe you’ll find yourself at home with my books. I hope so.

Thanks for joining me on this amazing journey, my friend!

Catherine is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management.